The Infinite Path
The motive for writing the book "Special Characteristics of the Sinless Imams." (Khasayas al-Immeh), by Sayyid Radi become a preliminary for undertaking a higher task by him i.e. the compilation of Nahj al Balagha (Path of Eloquence) which consists of sermons, supplications, testaments, letters, and short sayings of Imam Ali (‘a)
"It is undeniable fact that since Imam Ali (‘a) possessed special talents in eloquence, he has delivered many important sermons, and also on various suitable occasions had spoken short sayings which are full of wisdom and knowledge. Especially during his caliphate, he has written many important letters for his government officials and contemporaries. The Muslim people had always shown a keen interest and liking for the collection and preservation of abovementioned treasures of knowledge kept by Imam Ali (‘a)."1
Whatever Sayyid Radi has been able to collect and compile in his book Nahj al-Balaghah consists only a small portion of the sermons and letters of Imam Ali (‘a).
“The learned scholar like Masoodi had testified that the number of Sermons of Imam Ali (‘a) is far greater than those compiled by Sayyid Radi in Nahj al-Balaghah which contains only two hundred and thirty-nine sermons, while Masoodi himself had admitted the existence of more than four hundred and eighty-two sermons.”
Sayyid Radi himself has admitted that he has undertaken walking on a road which has infinite length, and therefore finds himself helpless in completing his journey. He writes: "I do not claim that I have covered all the parameters of Imam Ali's (‘a) speeches, without losing any of his words. Whatever have been collected by me is much less as compared to the portion left uncollected. But as far as my endeavors regarding the search for the missing literature are concerned, I have left no stone unturned in this mission.2
Also, Sayyid Radi has compiled only four hundred and ninety short sayings from Imam Ali (‘a), while Allameh Ahmadi has compiled fifteen thousand short saying of Imam Ali (‘a) in his speech book "Gharar wa Darar" (Excellent Pearls). The collection and compilation efforts of literary material related to Imam Ali (‘a) were not limited to Sayyid Radi and his compiled book Nahj al-Balaghah, rather these efforts were zealously pursued by all the great Shi’i personalities of before Sayyid Radi, his contemporaries, and those who came after him.
The special value which may be attached to Sayyid Radi's precious contribution is, that the future learned research scholars, by diving into this ocean of infinite depth succeeded in discovering many precious jewels, and used them for the enrichment of the Islamic culture. The scope of these later works is so vast that it would require separate research of its own.
“The overall research work conducted over Nahj al-Balaghah has resulted in the creation of plenty of special literature, which may be titled as Adabyati Nahj al-Balaghah (Path of Eloquence's Literature), and could be listed as follows:
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Identification of various definitions of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Stipulation on Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Documentation and reference of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Biographies of the Narrators of Nahj al-Baliighah.
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Bibliography of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Content of Topics of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Content of specialties of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Identification of Nahj al-Balaghah (Aphorism).
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Translations of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Extraction of concise statement of a principle (Aphorism) from Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Translation of Aphorism into prose and poetry in Persian and other languages.
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Selected topics of Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Effects of Nahj al-Balaghah in the Field of Islamic Divinities.
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Effects of Nahj al-Balaghah upon Islamic politics.
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l5. Effects of Nahj al-Balaghah upon Islamic Training and Ethics.
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Effects of Nahj al-Balaghah upon Islamic Orators.
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Effect of Nahj al-Balaghah upon Islamic Writers.
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Nature and Creation in Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Books and Research Papers written about Nahj al-Balaghah.
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Biographies of Nahj al-Balaghah 's Collectors.3
